Pastor’s Note
You are the most traveling group of Believers that I’ve ever known. Considering any given week that Richard’s in Geneva, Mike’s in Africa, Blair’s in Spain, Brock’s in LA, Angie’s at the Lake, William’s working in South Carolina, Dave’s in Portland, and Polly’s somewhere in Peru, we know our people are on the move. Each Sunday God has both gathered and scattered Southwood for His Kingdom advancement in this world. Think about it. The Newberrys (or “the Newbellies” as my girls call them) may be teaching Sunday school here at home while Keith Denton is making a connecting flight to China for business. There you have it - one gathered and another scattered. And I’m right there with you. Already this summer, I’ve been everywhere from South America to South Alabama and I’m still headed to St. Louis in a week.
So here’s the question: How does such a travelsome group stay connected to one another and to Christ’s ongoing work at Southwood?
As the Scattered
Whether here or away, always be an active Southwood member by taking advantage of several key communication resources. Get online and watch the short video clips called Moments with Mike and Vision Stories. Catch the sermons you missed online through our audio files. Join a ministry group by creating an account on SouthwoodTower.org. Make sure you are subscribed to the Southwood Email Announcements for weekly information important to the life of our Church. Hey, I think you can even Tithe online!
Southwood has a host of ways to keep our members connected to the ongoing work of the ministry, but the greatest resource we have is one another. Let me tell you about one of our member’s ministry to the Scattered.
As the Gathered
Before we left for vacation, Carolyn Respess dropped off a travel care package. In it were fun books for our girls and homemade pound cake for the road. This was an overwhelming expression of love, care and a hopeful expectation of our return. Carolyn is an example of a Southwood member who views our traveling members as vital to her flock. She spends her days emailing, sending care packages, and mailing worship programs and pictures to many away from home. Through her faithful attention to those of us away from home, she keeps Southwood connected to the work of Christ here in Huntsville. Every time we speak she has all the updates on each family in her care. Carolyn, literally, is our traveling Saint! Let’s all follow her example.
As we gather each week for worship, let us give greater attention to those not beside us in our pew. Remember our businessmen and women, military members, college students, missionaries, and our shut-ins. Keep them in your prayers and seek to aid them in staying connected. Like Carolyn, tie a yellow ribbon around your heart for them and don’t take it down until they return.
Don’t feel connected to your church family? Make a change and adopt one of the ways mentioned to be connected. Speak to someone you don’t know each week you are here. You will build connections quickly! The local body is a family. Build relationships through knowing people, knowing about people and praying for peopel in our church family. You will find yourself quickly connected so when you return to worship, the faces who greet you are those of family.